Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, P.C.

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Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, P.C.

Devoted Vets for Beloved Pets. Together, Dr. Sam Smith and Dr. Stephen Anderson bring you 23 years of veterinary medical experience.
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Paws & Claws Animal Hospital provides several services to the coastal North Carolina area that are not currently available, or are only partially available. We offer high quality internal, preventive, & geriatric medicine, and soft tissue & orthopedic surgical services to cats and dogs as well as exotic (non-traditional species excluding primates) and local injured wildlife. Additionally, we provi

de referral services in advanced dentistry and oral procedures, radiology, oncology, boarding, bathing, and pet daycare. PCAH also serves as a facility where students training in veterinary medicine can shadow and learn skills on the way to earning their degree. Dr. Smith received his undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University and in 1997 graduated from Ross University with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree. While at NC State, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. Dr. Smith has more than 15 years experience in veterinary dentistry with training from boarded veterinary dentists and oral surgeons at continuing education programs. His special interests include raptor rehabilitation, advanced dentistry and orthopedic surgery. Dr. Anderson received his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from North Carolina State University and continued on at NCSU to graduate with his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. After graduation, Dr. Anderson moved to the Florida Keys to gain more hands-on experience in exotic animal medicine at the Marathon Veterinary Hospital and spent his free time volunteering his services for the Sea Turtle Hospital, Wild Bird Center and Marine Mammal Rescue Team. After a couple of years in the Keys, Dr. Anderson moved on to bring exotic animal medicine to the Wilmington area. He is also the area veterinarian for the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program, Southern Reptile Rescue, and Sky Watch Bird Rescue, Wilmington chapter of Phoenix Landing, and the Wilmington House Rabbit Society. His special interests include exotic animal medicine (including wildlife), surgery, and oncology.

01/07/2024

Friendly reminder our office will be closed this Thursday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day. We will be open again on Friday, July 5th, with normal business hours.

Please remember to call now if your pet needs any medications to help them through the fireworks and don't wait until the last minute! 🤗

20/06/2024

Help us celebrate Hazel's chemotherapy graduation! 🎉

Hazel is the sweetest girl and has been one of the best patients for us! While we'll miss seeing her every week, we couldn't be more thrilled her cancer is in remission and she's able to live her best life!

18/06/2024

Today is Veterinary Appreciation Day 🎉

June 18th is dedicated to honor the incredible work and dedication of veterinary professionals worldwide. Regardless of someone's role in our profession, they are a vital part of what allows veterinary teams to provide the best possible care for animals and help make medical advancements to do so.

Happy Veterinary Appreciation Day! 🐾

17/06/2024

Tis the season for perfect walking weather! There are so many benefits to going on walks for both the humans and the dog(s)!

Please keep in mind, as the weather gets warmer, so does the ground. If you plan to take your pets on walks where the ground gets hot (asphalt, sidewalks, sand, etc.), make sure to pick up some protective footwear to keep their paws from getting burnt! ☀️

27/05/2024

We want to take a moment to remember all the lives that have been and currently are dedicated to this country and honor those who sacrificed everything. 🇺🇸

"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." —Harry S. Truman

22/05/2024

Our office will be closed Monday, May 27th in observance of Memorial Day. We will reopen Tuesday, May 28th with normal business hours. We wish everyone a safe Memorial Day weekend!

20/05/2024

Do you have reptiles and don't know what insects to feed them? Reptiles benefit most from Dubia roaches! Crickets are often the most commonly fed insect, however, if they are not properly supplemented, reptiles can suffer from diseases such as Metabolic Bone Disease. Crickets can also cause injury to reptiles because they can bite. Dubias are a much more balanced insect to feed reptiles and require less supplementation to meet the requirements for a well-balanced diet.

16/05/2024

It is very important to have your dogs spayed, not only to avoid a messy heat cycle and unwanted pregnancies, but also to avoid serious health issues as your dog gets older. Up to 25% of intact female dogs will develop pyometra in their lifetime. Pyometra is a severe bacterial infection in the uterus that can result in death if not dealt with promptly. Pyometra has a 50-75% chance of recurrence if they are not spayed after they initially get it.
One study found that intact female dogs are much more likely to develop mammary tumors, over half of which were cancerous. This study also found spayed females had a 4-fold decreased risk of dying from mammary cancer compared to intact females. Spaying a dog before their second heat cycle reduces the relative risk of developing mammary cancer by ~94%. If a female dog is spayed after their 3rd heat cycle, their relative risk of developing mammary cancer is believed to be the same as an intact female.

11/05/2024

Where's Waldo....we mean, Dr. Anderson?

20 years ago today, Dr. Anderson graduated from Vet School at NCSU! We are incredibly grateful to him (and Dr. Smith!) for following their passions so wholeheartedly. They've not only created a wonderful environment for pets and their owners, but for their employees, as well!

Let us know in the comments if you spotted Dr. Anderson! 🧐

02/05/2024

Dolly was so excited to be checked out by her favorite doctor! She cuddled right up to him!

30/04/2024

Hank may only be 11 weeks old, but he's already the goodest boy. Such a gentleman! 🥰

26/04/2024

We're finishing up this week celebrating our incredible reception team! This week is Veterinary Reception Week and we want to take a moment to say how lucky we are to have such a hardworking group of receptionists. While you may interact with them a lot on the phone or face-to-face, they do so much behind the scenes, too.

Help us thank our wonderful team for all of their hard work! We truly wouldn't be where we are today without them!

18/04/2024

Did you know we offer free Happy Visits for nervous or scared pets? One of our assistants brought her dog, Blue, in for the first time and utilized the time here to help get him accustomed to the sights, sounds and smells of being here to help lower his anxiety and make future visits more fun!

Happy Visits are a great way to help acclimate pets who are nervous when they come in, or to help new pets, puppies and/or kittens to learn coming to the vet is nothing to be afraid of! 🥰

11/04/2024

Chilly was seen by Dr. Alewel this week after his owners noticed he was not feeling well. She recommended taking x-rays and saw something that looked like a rock causing an obstruction in his GI tract. Dr. Alewel, Dr. Anderson, their surgical team and Chilly's owners were preparing to bring him in for surgery the following morning, but thankfully, he passed the stone overnight and is doing great now!

Puppies (and some older dogs!) can be very mischievous and will eat non-digestible items such as toys, clothing, sticks, etc. that can cause intestinal blockages. Many times, this means we have to surgically remove the object.

The most common clinical signs of a foreign body ingestion are vomiting, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, straining to defecate, abdominal pain and lethargy. If an intestinal blockage occurs, it is an urgent, time-sensitive situation and it's important to bring your pet in right away if you believe this may be happening to them.

Swipe to see Chilly looking very proud of himself ➡️😂

05/04/2024

Now that it's getting warmer outside, turtles are coming out of their winter dormancy. This means they will be on the move to forage for food, find mates, or to get to their seasonal habitats.

Please be mindful of turtles that may be on the road or hiding around your yard while you're doing yardwork such a mowing. If it's safe for you to do so, you can assist a turtle crossing the road by moving them off of it in the direction they were originally heading in.

If you encounter an injured turtle, please give us a call and drop them off at our office so we can assess their condition and determine the best course of action for them!

04/04/2024

We look forward to meeting all new clients and their pets but we do ask for patience and understanding while we get everyone booked. While we don't want to turn anyone away, we do have to keep our existing clients and their pets in mind while new clients are being accepted. Please know we will not turn anyone or any pet away unless we truly cannot accommodate them at that time.

If you are interested in becoming a new client, head over to our website to complete a New Client Form and any Husbandry forms that may be required! Our reception team will reach out as soon as they are able to discuss scheduling with you once those forms have been completed and submitted to our office.

02/04/2024

Meet Fiona and her fabulous hair-do! She's an Angora rabbit and yes, she woke up like this 💁🏼‍♀️🐇

22/03/2024

Did someone say walk? 🐕🐾

12/03/2024

This may be the cutest little tortoise to come through our doors 😍🐢

07/03/2024

Is there anything cuter than a pile of Malinois puppies? 😫😍

Swipe ➡️ to see the cuteness! 🐾

04/03/2024

✨ We're excited to announce we are now accepting new clients again!

🐾 Please visit our website www.pawsclawsah.com to fill out our new client form.

🦜 If you have reptiles, amphibians, small mammals and/or birds, we also need to have husbandry forms completed for each pet. We will need all of those forms to be completed prior to scheduling an appointment and they can also be found on our website!

29/02/2024

It is with sad hearts we must announce the departure of Devyn. While we are incredibly sad to lose her, we do want to wish her the greatest success and happiness in her new career.

Since Devyn joined the Paws & Claws Family in 2014, we have all come to know, love and value Devyn as both an individual and employee. She has proven herself to be an invaluable, devoted and dedicated employee and friend.

We know we are not the only ones who will miss her- she loved every pet that came through our doors with her whole heart and her unending passion for pet's care and their owners alike has been a priceless asset to our team and goal as a veterinary office.

We have been incredibly blessed to watch Devyn grow into the incredible woman and assistant she is today over the last 10 years she has spent with us. She has helped our patients, clients, office and team in more ways than we can list in a post. While she may no longer work here, she will always be part of the Paws & Claws Family.

We will miss her dearly, but we can't wait to see what she will accomplish in her new career. This isn't goodbye, just a see you later 💜

19/02/2024

Do your pet's anesthetic events make you nervous? Swipe ➡️ to see what we as an office do to prepare and what you can do to make the process as safe for your pet as possible!

13/02/2024

Our Valentine's Day "Teddy"bear 😍❤️

02/02/2024

Sharing Beau's sleepy vibes after another exciting week at the office 😴😴 Who else is ready for the weekend?

30/01/2024

‼️ FOUND CAT ‼️

This very sweet and friendly kitty was found outside of our office today. We scanned for a microchip but there is not one present. Please CALL our office (our social media page is not closely monitored) if you know who this sweet baby is or if you are the owner!

Our office number is (910) 399-3768.

Let's get this loving baby back home! 💜

25/01/2024

✨Meet Keeley! We think she missed her calling to be a dog model 😍

16/01/2024

We're celebrating Nellie's final day of chemotherapy today!! 🎉🥳

It makes us so excited to see our patients complete their chemo journey 🥰 Congratulations sweet girl!!

13/01/2024

As many of you may have seen, there are many posts going around right now about Purina foods killing pets recently. The last confirmed FDA recall for Purina foods was on March 10, 2023 for a prescription diet called EL. This was a voluntary recall on Purina's part. Purina has a Quality Assurance Team that leads more than 100,000 quality checks on their foods each day and they consistently perform routine contamination analyses on all of their foods. Purina has spoken out against these false allegations and state there are no health or safety issues with any of their products and owners can continue to feed them with confidence.

The initial allegations were posted and continue to be spread by an individual who has their own line of pet food and routinely uses fear mongering tactics in an attempt to turn owners away from trusted and researched brands to promote their own boutique foods. The individuals behind these rumors have admitted in several places they have no evidence or proof to support their claims.

We would like to remind owners that correlation does not equal causation. Until the FDA, Purina, or any other reputable member of the scientific/nutritional community provide information verifying these claims, we will continue to encourage owners to feed their pets brands like Purina, Royal Canin, Hill's and Eukanuba that are research-based and formulated by veterinary nutritionists. We continue to want the best for you and your pets and will always strive to that end.

08/01/2024

🎉 Help us celebrate Otto's last day of chemotherapy!! We're so proud of this sweet, handsome boy and of how far he's come!

Congratulations, Otto! 🥳

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Address

Opening Hours

Monday	07:45 - 17:30
Tuesday	07:45 - 17:30
Wednesday	07:45 - 19:30
Thursday	07:45 - 17:30
Friday	07:45 - 17:30
Saturday	08:00 - 12:00

Telephone

+19103993768

Website

http://www.pawsclawsah.com/

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Videos

When the cutest patient of the day actually likes their medication 😍 #animalhospitallife #veterinarian #wilmingtonnc #animalhospital #exoticvets #vettechlife #exoticvetmed #veterinarylife #vettechsofinstagram #exoticveterinarymedicine #wrightsvillebeach #vettech #exoticvet #pawsclawsah #VeterinaryMedicine #bunniesofinstagram #rabbitsofinstagram #bunbun #exoticanimalsofinstagram

#animalhospitallife #veterinarian #wilmingtonnc #animalhospital #exoticvets #vettechlife #exoticvetmed #veterinarylife #vettechsofinstagram #exoticveterinarymedicine #wrightsvillebeach #vettech #exoticvet #pawsclawsah #VeterinaryMedicine #wallaby #babywallaby #wallabysofinstagram

We just posted a new reel over on our Instragram! What you’re seeing here is a heartworm microfilaria or immature/baby heartworm. This is how the disease starts after the pet has been bitten by an infected mosquito. April is Heartworm Awareness Month! This initiative aims to bring awareness to all pet owners about heartworm disease, its negative effects, and how they can prevent/cure it. 🪱 Thankfully there are several preventatives on the market and a cure is available for patients who become infected. This is why we’re making heartworms the icon for the month! Talk to your veterinarian about the best option for your pet! Follow us on Instagram at @pawsclawsah 💕

We’d make @drpimplepopper proud! 🙌🏻🐢 This box turtle was brought in to us recently and presented with this huge cyst on her neck area. Dr. Anderson gave this girl some sedation and used an incision extrude this caseous material you see in the video! This turtle will be hospitalized for a little while and have daily wound flushes while she heals. Once healed, she should be good as new and okay to be released back into the wild! 💉 • • • • • • #turtle #easternboxturtle #pimplepopper #drpimplepopper #abscess #exoticvet #animalhospital #veterinarian #wilmingtonnc #ncvet #reptiles #reptilevet #reptilemedicine #exoticmedicine #pimple #squeeze #boxturtle